Iraqi authorities declare return of Christians a national priority

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi has called on the Christian diaspora to return to their homeland to help rebuild the state. The government declared support for returnees a priority task and promised families land plots for housing.

At a meeting with Chaldean Patriarch Paul III Nona on July 11, 2026, the head of government emphasized that the return of forcibly displaced citizens is a key factor for stability. The authorities announced their readiness to grant Christians the right to receive land as part of a national initiative to allocate 1 million plots for residential construction.

According to al-Zaidi, Iraq's strength lies in its ethnic and religious diversity, and Christians are an important partner in building the country's future. The Prime Minister also invited Christian entrepreneurs to invest in the development of healthcare and education.

Patriarch Paul III Nona welcomed the initiative, noting that it sends an important signal to believers in the diaspora and strengthens their trust in the country.

For his part, Archbishop of the Syriac Orthodox Church Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf emphasized that without addressing the root causes of emigration, the authorities' appeals will yield no results. He recalled the systemic marginalization of Christians, the lack of genuine political representation in parliament, and the shortage of jobs. He called on the government to continue a resolute fight against corruption in order to restore citizens' trust.

As the Union of Orthodox Journalists reported, Iraq adopted amendments to a law that could legalize child marriages.

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